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Several years ago, approaching this
innocuous entrance would get you immediately detained. They were very serious about
security.

In order to get weapons from the
magazines
to awaiting aircraft, they were routinely trucked across State Road 228. Florida Highway
Patrol Troopers stopped traffic a half mile in either direction and Military Police
cleared the area.

I once had vehicle problems and stopped
on the side of the road just prior to a weapons transfer. Being in the "hot
zone", I was approached by MP's, ordered to leave my vehicle and ride with them to a
secure location. I tried to explain I'd have the problem fixed momentarily, but soon
decided not to argue with these heavily armed fellows who had a very serious
demeanor.

I was taken to the Main Gate and put
inside the reception area with several other civilians. We were locked in and guarded by
an armed MP but curiously enough were allowed to look out the windows and watch what was
going on.

Security vehicles buzzed back and forth
for a few minutes and then it came. First was an Armored Personnel Carrier with a big gun
on top. Then I could see a helicopter flying low and slow with the side door open and a
guy pointing a big gun out of it. Next was a military tractor trailer towing what appeared
to be a 45 foot flatbed with a tarp covering a long tubular object. Another APC followed.
A few minutes after this parade, I was taken back to my vehicle and just dropped
off.

Flash forward to December 2001, a few years have
passed since the decommissioning of the Navy Base. Curiosity, getting the best of me, I
ventured beyond the innocuous entrance and well into the once Super high security area
along with my camera. Enjoy the tour as I saw it.

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UPDATE: January 16, 2004,
I found all gates once again open and ventured back for another
look. Nothing but dirt where the Administration buildings and personnel quarters
once stood. Two track hoe operators were hard at work dismantling the
magazines. The east
magazines are leveled and only two magazines remain in the North line. All buildings are gone
from the main compound and all that remains is the water tower. It won't be long before
all traces of the entire site will be totally erased from the area. Only these few
photographs and a couple of signs I rescued from the dump remain as a testament to the
fact that this area ever existed.
Florida Community College ( FCCJ ) at Jacksonville plans to have a facility
built on the Cecil Field Commerce Center site soon.

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UPDATE: November 16, 2004,
A new roadway and entrance to Cecil Commerce Center is located a
few hundred yards to the east of the original entrance. The old entrance is closed as well
as the old 103rd Street / Normandy triangle. It won't be long before the whole original
entrance area to Cecil Field / Yellow Water will be obliterated. Old-timers visiting the
area will soon not recognize a thing. That's progress.

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UPDATE: December 04, 2007
A small weapons magazine line is being
dismantled on the old Cecil Field side. Not part of the Yellow water project,
but interesting none the less. No traces of this magazine exist on the
location

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UPDATE: December 17, 2008
The small weapons magazine above is gone.
In November, I got a picture sent to me from very early in Yellow Water
history (1965). This is the original unit mascot! Also got this picture of
an APC.

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Keep in mind that the comments about the pictures
you see in this and the following pages are purely speculation on my part. If you find
incorrect comments, please let me know and I'll be happy to correct them.

I would also like to add some of your old Cecil Field
pictures to this website. Please feel free to contact me and we'll set aside and area for
these photos.